Ladysmith man sentenced for fatal hit-and-run crash

UPDATE: A Ladysmith man will spend a decade behind bars after a fatal hit-and-run.

Michael Niles was sentenced Tuesday in the February 2017 death of Joseph Hraban. Before he died, Hraban told police he was standing next to his pickup truck in Ladysmith when he saw a car approaching at high speed without headlights.

The car spun out of control, hit Hraban, then left the scene.

When they located him, Niles said he should not have been driving because he had too much to drink.

In March, Niles pleaded no contest to a reduced hit-and-run causing death charge. A judge ordered him to ten years in prison followed by eight years supervision.

UPDATE: A Ladysmith man accused of a hit-and-run crash that left a man dead will be sentenced in May.

Michael Niles was charged in the February 2017 death of Joseph Hraban. Before he died, Hraban told police he was standing next to his pickup truck in Ladysmith when he saw a car approaching at high speed without headlights.

The car spun out of control, hit Hraban, then left the scene.

When they located him, Niles said he should not have been driving because he had too much to drink.

Monday, a reckless homicide charge was reduced to hit-and-run causing death. Niles pleaded no contest to that, and hit-and-run causing great bodily harm.

He will be sentenced May 15.

Posted May 2017A Ladysmith man faces reckless homicide charges for a hit and run crash that left a man dead.

Michael Niles is charged in Rusk County for the February death of Joseph Hraban. Before he died Hraban told police he was standing next to his pickup truck when he saw a car approaching at a high rate of speed without its headlights on. The car spun out of control, hitting Hraban, then left the scene. Police say a local bartender told them she had kicked Niles out of the bar that night along with two others due to their behavior.

Niles told police he should not have been driving because he had too much to drink. He said he lost control of the car while turning up the radio, and fled the scene because he was scared. Thursday in court the judge refused to lower his $100,000 bond. He returns to court in May.